Rail-brace.



' wmvsses Mme/W008 0 "I a m ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.. B. A.FLESHMANfl: J. M. KOONTZ.

I RAIL BRAGB. APPLIOATION PILED JUNE 12, 1907.

(fom/lf 16507222 NITED STATES PATENT oinaron.

BENJAMIN A. FLESHMAN AND JOHN M. KooN'rz, OF FAYETTEVILLE, WESTVIRGINIA.

RAIL-BBACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed June 12, 1907. Serial No. 378,475.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be It known thatwe, BENJAMIN A. Fresn- MAN and JOHN M. KooNrz, citizensof the pensing with curve braces, double spiking of the outer rail andlike expedients heretofore employed.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and thenpointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this s ecification, in whichsimilar characters of re erence indicate corresponding parts in bothviews.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improvement as applied, the rails beingshown in cross section, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. 7

The plates A and B ofthe rail brace terminate at their outer "ends inintegral upturned flanges A, B engaging the outeredges and top of thebases of the rails O and C, as plainly shown in the drawings, the saidrail bases being engaged at the Inner sides and on top by retam'ingflanges D, D fulcrumed at E, E on the platesA and B,re-

40 spectively. Thus by the arrangement described the retaining flanges Dand D can be readily swung into and out of engagement with the bases ofthe rails at the inner sides thereof, and when the retaining flanges Dand D are in active osition then they are fastened in place on t eplates A and B by bolts F, F or other fastening devices. The inner endsof the plates A and B terminate in threaded portions A, B engaged b aturn buckle G to adjust the lates A-and so as to hold the rails C and 8'at the proyipr gage and against spreading, especially w en t e device isused on curves, switches and other places.

- In order to prevent accidental turning of equal to that on the outerrail, thereby disthe turn buckle G, alocking device is providedconsisting essentially of a locking arm H. fulcrumed on one of theplates (as shown, the plate A) and havin an angular lug H terminating inan e e 2 a'da ted to receive a cotter P111 I, as s own in ig). 2. Afterthe turn buckle G is adjusted to ring the plates A and B in roperposition relative to the rails' C and then the locking arm H is swungdownward into the position shown in the drawings, that is, with H assingthroughthe opening in the turn buc e G, and then the gperator insertsthe cotter 1pin I into the eye thus locking the arm I against movementand at the same time preventin the turn buckle G from being turned. Nowy the arrangement described the arms A and B can be uickly andconveniently adjusted, to secure y hold the rails 0 ing spreading ofstrain on an outer rail on curves, as the strain is equall shared by theinner rail owing to'the rai brace shown and described.

In ractice place between the ties, thus allowing 'the use of the devicewithout the slightest change in the road-bed or interfering with therunning of the trains during the time it is placed in osition.

en using the rail brace on switches and other places, slightmodifications in the construct on may be necessary, and hence we do notlimit ourselves to the exact construction shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent: I v

I 1. A rail brace for connecting a pair of track rails with each other,comprising plates terminatin at their outer ends in heads engaging theases of the rails, the inner ends of the plates being threaded, a turnbuckle connecting the inner threaded ends with each other, a locking armfulcrumed on one of the said plates and having an angular flangeterminating in an eye, the flange and eye being adapted to pass throughthe opening in the turn buckle, and a key engaging the said eye to lockthe arm in place to hold the turnbuckle against turning.

2. A rail brace for connecting a pair of track rails-with each other,comprising plates terminating at their outer end in an upturned flangeforengaging the outer edgeof the base the angular lug and C in theproper position, thus prevent T the rails and relieving the the railbrace is preferably 31.

of the rail, and aretaining flange for engaging l the eye to lock thearm in place to hold the the inner edge of the base of the railfulerumed to the said plate, bolts for seeuring the retaining flange inplace on the plate, the

turnbuckle against turning.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of 15 inner ends of the plates being threaded, a l twosubscribing witnesses.

turnbuckle connecting the inner ends of the plates with each other, alocking arm fulcrumed on one of the said plates and having an angularflange terminating in an eye,

the flange and eye being adafited to pass through the turnbuckle, and aey engaging Witnesses:

FRANK H. BRAZIE, OLA BABER.

